Every Path of Exile character eventually faces the Labyrinth. It is where you earn Ascendancy points, the upgrades that turn a basic build into something powerful. It is also full of traps, puzzles, and a boss who loves to show up three times.
This guide breaks down the PoE Lab from start to finish: Trials, difficulties, Izaro, traps, and rewards. If you are still working through the campaign, our Path of Exile leveling guide helps you reach each Labyrinth on time.
So, how does the PoE Lab work? There are four Labyrinths: Normal, Cruel, Merciless, and Eternal. Each grants 2 Ascendancy points on your first completion, for 8 in total. The first three unlock by finishing Trials of Ascendancy in the campaign, while the Eternal Labyrinth requires an Offering to the Goddess.
PoE Lab: the four difficulties
Each Labyrinth is harder than the last, with stronger monsters and deadlier traps. Here is how they compare.Labyrinth overview
| Labyrinth | Area level | How to unlock | Ascendancy points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 33 | 6 Trials in Acts 1 to 3 | 1 and 2 |
| Cruel | 55 | 3 Trials in Acts 6 and 7 | 3 and 4 |
| Merciless | 68 | 3 Trials in Acts 8 to 10 | 5 and 6 |
| Eternal | 75 (up to 83) | Offering to the Goddess | 7 and 8 |
Choosing your Ascendancy
You pick your Ascendancy class at the Altar of Ascendancy after your first Normal Labyrinth. This choice shapes your build, so research it before you run the Lab. After that, each new difficulty adds two more points to spend in your Ascendancy tree.All Trial of Ascendancy locations
Trials are short trap gauntlets hidden in campaign zones. You must complete them to open each Labyrinth.Normal Labyrinth Trials
- Act 1, Lower Prison: Spike Traps.
- Act 2, Chamber of Sins Level 2: Sawblades.
- Act 2, Crypt Level 1: Spinning Blades.
- Act 3, Crematorium: Furnace Traps.
- Act 3, Catacombs: Blade Sentries.
- Act 3, Imperial Gardens: Dart Traps.
Cruel and Merciless Trials
- Act 6, Lower Prison: First Cruel Trial.
- Act 7, Chamber of Sins Level 2 and Crypt Level 1: The other two Cruel Trials.
- Act 8, Bath House: First Merciless Trial.
- Act 9, Tunnels: Second Merciless Trial.
- Act 10, Ossuary: Final Merciless Trial.
The Eternal Labyrinth
The Eternal Labyrinth, often called Uber Lab, does not need campaign Trials. Instead, you enter with an Offering to the Goddess, which drops from endgame content. Improved offerings can raise the area level up to 83, which increases both danger and rewards.How to prepare for the PoE Lab
Good preparation turns the Labyrinth from a frustrating run into a quick win. A few minutes of setup can save you a lot of deaths.Preparation checklist
- Cap your resistances: Elemental damage from Izaro and monsters hurts without them.
- Carry bleed and poison removal: Flask modifiers that remove bleeding and poison counter several traps.
- Upgrade your life pool: More life gives you room for trap mistakes.
- Bring a reliable movement skill: It helps you dash through trap corridors.
A simple run plan
- Check the daily layout: Note where Izaro and the Darkshrines are.
- Move carefully through trap rooms: Watch trap timing instead of rushing.
- Click Darkshrines: Collect their bonuses early in the run.
- Handle Izaro's mechanics: Disable the ones your build cannot handle.
- Spend your keys and use the Font: Claim your loot and gem crafting before leaving.
How to beat Izaro
Izaro is the Labyrinth's boss, and you fight him three times in a single run. He retreats at about two thirds and one third of his life before the final fight.Izaro's mechanics
- Elemental statues: Boost his damage and resistance to that element.
- Charges: He gains charges that you remove with Charge Disruptors.
- Golems: He absorbs them for extra buffs.
- Gargoyles: Must be attacked while their protection is down.
- Idols, Lieutenants, Portals, and Fonts: More mechanics that strengthen him.
Risk versus reward
Every mechanic you leave active makes Izaro stronger, but it also earns extra Treasure Keys. Removing them makes the fight easier with fewer rewards. Therefore, new players should disable mechanics for safety, while strong characters can keep them for more loot.Labyrinth traps and Darkshrines
Traps are the biggest danger in the Lab. Most deal damage over time, which ignores armour and evasion.Main trap types
- Spike Traps: Deal a chunk of your life and energy shield as bleeding and hold you in place.
- Sawblades and Spinning Blades: Deal heavy physical damage on contact.
- Furnace Traps: Burn you while active.
- Blade Sentries and Dart Traps: Cover wide areas with physical and poison damage.
Mysterious Darkshrines
Darkshrines are optional shrines that grant random effects for the rest of your run. Some help a lot, such as extra speed, more resistances, or an extra Treasure Key. Others can disable traps in the final Izaro fight or grant an extra Divine Font use, so they are almost always worth clicking.PoE Lab rewards and the Divine Font
Beyond Ascendancy points, the Lab offers loot and gem crafting.Treasure Keys and the vault
Izaro drops a Treasure Key, and Argus, a roaming mini-boss in Merciless and Eternal, drops another. Keys open treasure chests that can contain currency, gems, jewellery, maps, divination cards, and uniques. Keys disappear when you leave the Labyrinth, so always spend them before exiting.Divine Font gem crafting
The Divine Font now offers gem crafting instead of the old helmet, glove, and boot enchantments. You can turn gems into Transfigured Gems while keeping their level and quality. Existing Labyrinth enchantments remain on older items, but new enchants are no longer available from the Font.Daily layouts
The Labyrinth layout changes every 24 hours at midnight UTC and is the same for all players that day. Community sites like poelab.com share daily maps, which makes planning your route easier.Pro Tips: PoE Lab
- Bring life flasks: Traps deal damage over time, so healing matters.
- Use a movement skill: Dashing past traps saves life and time.
- Raise fire and chaos resistance: They reduce damage from several traps.
- Check the daily layout: Planning a route avoids dead ends.
Common Mistakes in the Labyrinth
- Running Uber Lab too early: You need a strong character. Fix: wait until around level 75.
- Leaving all mechanics active: Izaro becomes too strong. Fix: disable them if you struggle.
- Exiting with keys: Unused keys are deleted. Fix: open chests before leaving.
- Skipping Darkshrines: You miss strong bonuses. Fix: click them when you find them.
FAQ: PoE Lab
How many Ascendancy points are there?
There are 8 in total, 2 for each Labyrinth difficulty on your first completion.What level should I be for each Lab?
Aim for around level 33 for Normal, 55 for Cruel, 68 for Merciless, and 75 for Eternal.Can I still get Labyrinth enchantments?
No. The Divine Font now offers gem crafting, although older enchanted items keep their enchants.Who is Argus?
Argus is a roaming mini-boss in the Merciless and Eternal Labyrinths. He drops a Treasure Key but hits hard, so avoid him if your character is fragile.Does the Labyrinth layout change?
Yes. It resets daily at midnight UTC and is the same for everyone that day.Why your connection matters in the PoE Lab
The Labyrinth is full of precise timing, from dodging traps to fighting Izaro. Lag turns safe paths into deadly ones.How lag affects Lab runs
- Trap timing: Delays make you step into active traps.
- Rubberbanding: You snap back into dangerous areas.
- Missed dodges: Izaro's attacks land before you react.
- Disconnections: You lose the run and its rewards.
How ExitLag helps
ExitLag is a connection optimizer for online games that finds the fastest and most stable route to the Path of Exile servers. Its Multipath Technology sends data through several routes at once, so if one becomes unstable, the others keep you connected. As a result, every dodge and dash responds on time, even in the trickiest trap rooms. To get started, download the ExitLag app, search for Path of Exile, select your region, and apply the routes.
PoE Lab: final thoughts
The Labyrinth is one of the most important milestones for any character. Complete the Trials, learn Izaro's mechanics, and collect all 8 Ascendancy points.Key takeaways
- There are four Labyrinths, each giving 2 Ascendancy points.
- Campaign Trials unlock Normal, Cruel, and Merciless.
- The Eternal Labyrinth requires an Offering to the Goddess.
- The Divine Font now offers gem crafting instead of enchantments.
